Alumni Profiles

Carlita imagines and designs spaces for clients in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Her success, she claims, is from the strong foundation in drawing and keen communications skills she acquired at CIA. We got to tour through the company's studio and hear about Carlita's latest big project, a new pub by Todd English in Las Vegas. Carlita works with her clients to create the perfect experience for visitors.

Wesley Burt '04 turned his passion for drawing into an amazing career. As a concept artist at Massive Black, Wesley has developed characters for all of the Transformer films. He also creates characters, environments, and storyboards for video games. In his spare time, he exhibits his breathtaking artwork in local San Francisco galleries.

Doan Buu ’04 graduated from CIA in TIME–Digital Arts and currently works for the Food Network's Rachael Ray television series in New York. As the Graphics Coordinator, Doan makes all the visual props on the set, including food and beverage labels. In this backstage exclusive interview, Doan gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his work and the show.

A CIA elective class in ceramics sparked Antonia’s dream of working in a storefront studio. Her CIA education and internships set her apart and landed her this dream job. Now she’s working on new lines of pottery and thrilled to be a ceramic artist.

John Chuldenko '98 just released his first feature film, Nesting, which he wrote and directed. As a student at CIA he was encouraged to write by a faculty member who saw talent in his work. This simple suggestion, along with John’s talent as a creative director, set him on this exciting path in filmmaking.

Less than 10 years after graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Art, Scott Colosimo's design and manufacturing company, Cleveland CycleWerks, is selling motorcycles around the world. For Scott, studying Industrial Design at CIA helped him develop the skills to create amazing motorcycles with classic designs and new technology.

Working in a professional glass studio in Los Angeles, Nate Cotterman '07 is learning the ropes of running a glass business, while also having access to a studio to produce his own work. Nate believes his drawing skills honed at CIA help him to visualize his ideas into three-dimensional forms.

After graduating from CIA, Ben Grasso '03 pursued a Master's degree in Painting at Hunter College. His training has landed him solo and group exhibitions around the U.S. and Italy. Ben credits his versatile education at CIA for developing his aesthetic and skill level. His sought-after work is represented by Thierry Goldberg Projects gallery in New York. Ben spends his time in New York with fellow CIA alums, including well-known painter, Dana Schutz '00.